Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative review

Mitochondria are essential regulators of bone health, controlling cell differentiation, cellular energy production, immune function, osteogenesis, and osteoclast activity. Their dysfunction is linked to orthopedic disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and osteomyelitis, contributing to imp...

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Main Authors: Daniel H. Mendelsohn, Nike Walter, Wing-Hoi Cheung, Ronald Man Yeung Wong, Rebecca Schönmehl, Lina Winter, Thaqif El Khassawna, Christian Heiss, Christoph Brochhausen, Markus Rupp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Redox Biology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231725001806
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author Daniel H. Mendelsohn
Nike Walter
Wing-Hoi Cheung
Ronald Man Yeung Wong
Rebecca Schönmehl
Lina Winter
Thaqif El Khassawna
Christian Heiss
Christoph Brochhausen
Markus Rupp
author_facet Daniel H. Mendelsohn
Nike Walter
Wing-Hoi Cheung
Ronald Man Yeung Wong
Rebecca Schönmehl
Lina Winter
Thaqif El Khassawna
Christian Heiss
Christoph Brochhausen
Markus Rupp
author_sort Daniel H. Mendelsohn
collection DOAJ
description Mitochondria are essential regulators of bone health, controlling cell differentiation, cellular energy production, immune function, osteogenesis, and osteoclast activity. Their dysfunction is linked to orthopedic disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and osteomyelitis, contributing to impaired bone homeostasis and increased fracture risk. While mitochondrial research has been more advanced in fields such as cardiology and neurology, emerging therapeutic strategies from these areas are beginning to show potential for translation into orthopedics. These include mitochondrial biogenesis stimulation, mitochondrial fission inhibition, antioxidant therapies, mitochondrial transplantation, and photobiomodulation, which have demonstrated success in enhancing tissue repair, reducing oxidative stress, and improving overall cellular function in non-orthopedic applications. The novel inhibitor of mitochondrial fission and accumulation of reactive oxygen species Mdivi-1 offers potential to improve clinical outcomes of bone diseases by alleviating cellular dysfunction and preventing bone loss. While these treatments are still in the developmental phase, they present innovative approaches to address mitochondrial dysfunction in orthopedic conditions, potentially transforming bone disease management and enhancing patient outcomes. This report explores research regarding the involvement of mitochondrial health in bone and joint function and discusses possible future treatment strategies targeting mitochondria in orthopedic conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-3e0269f4713e4d5993bdbaa032c946c02025-08-20T03:10:25ZengElsevierRedox Biology2213-23172025-06-018310366710.1016/j.redox.2025.103667Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative reviewDaniel H. Mendelsohn0Nike Walter1Wing-Hoi Cheung2Ronald Man Yeung Wong3Rebecca Schönmehl4Lina Winter5Thaqif El Khassawna6Christian Heiss7Christoph Brochhausen8Markus Rupp9Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, LMU Clinic Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaInstitute of Pathology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyInstitute of Pathology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyExperimental Trauma Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Giessen, Germany; Biruni University, Istanbul, TürkiyeInstitute of Pathology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, GermanyDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Giessen, Germany; Corresponding author.Mitochondria are essential regulators of bone health, controlling cell differentiation, cellular energy production, immune function, osteogenesis, and osteoclast activity. Their dysfunction is linked to orthopedic disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and osteomyelitis, contributing to impaired bone homeostasis and increased fracture risk. While mitochondrial research has been more advanced in fields such as cardiology and neurology, emerging therapeutic strategies from these areas are beginning to show potential for translation into orthopedics. These include mitochondrial biogenesis stimulation, mitochondrial fission inhibition, antioxidant therapies, mitochondrial transplantation, and photobiomodulation, which have demonstrated success in enhancing tissue repair, reducing oxidative stress, and improving overall cellular function in non-orthopedic applications. The novel inhibitor of mitochondrial fission and accumulation of reactive oxygen species Mdivi-1 offers potential to improve clinical outcomes of bone diseases by alleviating cellular dysfunction and preventing bone loss. While these treatments are still in the developmental phase, they present innovative approaches to address mitochondrial dysfunction in orthopedic conditions, potentially transforming bone disease management and enhancing patient outcomes. This report explores research regarding the involvement of mitochondrial health in bone and joint function and discusses possible future treatment strategies targeting mitochondria in orthopedic conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231725001806MitochondriaBoneCartilageMitochondrial dynamicsOsteoarthritisOsteoporosis
spellingShingle Daniel H. Mendelsohn
Nike Walter
Wing-Hoi Cheung
Ronald Man Yeung Wong
Rebecca Schönmehl
Lina Winter
Thaqif El Khassawna
Christian Heiss
Christoph Brochhausen
Markus Rupp
Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative review
Redox Biology
Mitochondria
Bone
Cartilage
Mitochondrial dynamics
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
title Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative review
title_full Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative review
title_fullStr Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative review
title_short Targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases: A narrative review
title_sort targeting mitochondria in bone and cartilage diseases a narrative review
topic Mitochondria
Bone
Cartilage
Mitochondrial dynamics
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231725001806
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